Antenatal

The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) has recommended moving from universal newborn ocular prophylaxis, to universal prenatal screening for Neisseriae gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and treatment of those with positive results in order to eradicate infection and prevent intrapartum transmission to the newborn.

Key messages for health care providers

• Black-legged or deer ticks (BLT) are found throughout Nova Scotia. Preventing a BLT bite is the most effective way to prevent Lyme disease. Risk reduction strategies include using DEET-containing insect repellant (safe to use in pregnancy) and careful ‘tick checks’ after being in grassy or wooded areas, including a park or yard. Immediate and correct removal of an attached BLT is key to prevention. For advice about tick removal see: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/CDPC/lyme.asp.

TO: NS Perinatal Care Providers
FROM: Reproductive Care Program
DATE: December 1, 2017
RE: Zika Virus in Pregnancy

Recommendations for screening pregnant women with potential exposure to Zika virus are evolving. The current screening recommendations are summarized below. Included with this memo are copies of the Nova Scotia ZIKA TESTING ALGORITHM – INTERIM GUIDANCE and the Nova Scotia ZIKA CLINICAL INFORMATION DATA SHEET – INTERIM GUIDANCE.

The Nova Scotia guidelines for antenatal laboratory screening and testing were revised and re-released in 2024. The guidelines are available in a convenient printable card format. The companion document to the new Nova Scotia Prenatal Record provides detailed information on applying these guidelines.